The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

Chapter 346

Chapter 3462,829 wordsPublic domain

Cor*rupt` (k?r-r?pt") , a. [L. corruptus , p. p. of corrumpere to corrupt; cor- + rumpere to break. See Rupture .] 1. Changed from a sound to a putrid state; spoiled; tainted; vitiated; unsound.

Who with such corrupt and pestilent bread would feed them. Knolles.

2. Changed from a state of uprightness, correctness, truth, etc., to a worse state; vitiated; depraved; debased; perverted; as, corrupt language; corrupt judges.

At what ease Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt To swear against you. Shak.

3. Abounding in errors; not genuine or correct; as, the text of the manuscript is corrupt .

Corrupt <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Corrupted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Corrupting .] 1. To change from a sound to a putrid or putrescent state; to make putrid; to putrefy.

2. To change from good to bad; to vitiate; to deprave; to pervert; to debase; to defile.

Evil communications corrupt good manners. 1. Cor. xv. 33.

3. To draw aside from the path of rectitude and duty; as, to corrupt a judge by a bribe .

Heaven is above all yet; there sits a Judge That no king can corrupt . Shak.

4. To debase or render impure by alterations or innovations; to falsify; as, to corrupt language; to corrupt the sacred text.

He that makes an ill use of it [language], though he does not corrupt the fountains of knowledge, . . . yet he stops the pines. Locke.

5. To waste, spoil, or consume; to make worthless.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt . Matt. vi. 19.

Corrupt <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt" (k?r-r?pt") , v. i. 1. To become putrid or tainted; to putrefy; to rot.

Bacon.

2. To become vitiated; to lose putity or goodness.

Corrupter <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"er (k?r-r?p"t?r) , n. One who corrupts; one who vitiates or taints; as, a corrupter of morals .

Corruptful <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"ful (-f?l) , a. Tending to corrupt; full of corruption. [Obs.] " Corruptful bribes."

Spenser.

Corruptibility <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt`i*bil"i*ty (k?r-r?p`t?-b?l"?-t?) , n. [L. corruptibilitas : cf. F. corruptibilit\'82 .] The quality of being corruptible; the possibility or liability of being corrupted; corruptibleness.

Burke.

Corruptible <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"i*ble (k?r-r?p"t?-b'l) , a. [L. corruptibilis : cf. F. corruptible .] 1. Capable of being made corrupt; subject to decay. "Our corruptible bodies."

Hooker.

Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold. 1 Pet. i. 18.

2. Capable of being corrupted, or morally vitiated; susceptible of depravation.

They systematically corrupt very corruptible race. Burke.

-- Cor*rupt"i*ble*ness , n. -- Cor*rupt"i*bly , adv.

Corruptible <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"i*ble , n. That which may decay and perish; the human body. [Archaic]

1 Cor. xv. 53.

Corruptingly <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"ing*ly , adv. In a manner that corrupts.

Corruption <Xpage=327>

Cor*rup"tion (k?r-r?p"sh?n) , n. [F. corruption , L. corruptio .] 1. The act of corrupting or making putrid, or state of being corrupt or putrid; decomposition or disorganization, in the process of putrefaction; putrefaction; deterioration.

The inducing and accelerating of putrefaction is a subject of very universal inquiry; for corruption is a reciprocal to "generation". Bacon.

2. The product of corruption; putrid matter.

3. The act of corrupting or of impairing integrity, virtue, or moral principle; the state of being corrupted or debased; loss of purity or integrity; depravity; wickedness; impurity; bribery.

It was necessary, by exposing the gross corruptions of monasteries, . . . to exite popular indignation against them. Hallam.

They abstained from some of the worst methods of corruption usual to their party in its earlier days. Bancroft.

&hand; Corruption , when applied to officers, trustees, etc., signifies the inducing a violation of duty by means of pecuniary considerations.

Abbott.

4. The act of changing, or of being changed, for the worse; departure from what is pure, simple, or correct; as, a corruption of style; corruption in language.

Corruption of blood (Law) , taint or impurity of blood, in consequence of an act of attainder of treason or felony, by which a person is disabled from inheriting any estate or from transmitting it to others.

Corruption of blood can be removed only by act of Parliament. Blackstone.

Syn. -- Putrescence; putrefaction; defilement; contamination; deprivation; debasement; adulteration; depravity; taint. See Depravity .

Corruptionist <Xpage=327>

Cor*rup"tion*ist , n. One who corrupts, or who upholds corruption.

Sydney Smith.

Corruptive <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"ive (k?r-r?p"t?v) , a. [L. corruptivus : cf. F. corruptif .] Having the quality of taining or vitiating; tending to produce corruption.

It should be endued with some corruptive quality for so speedy a dissolution of the meat. Ray.

Corruptless <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"less (k?r-r?pt"l?s) , a. Not susceptible of corruption or decay; incorruptible.

Dryden.

Corruptly <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"ly , adv. In a corrupt manner; by means of corruption or corrupting influences; wronfully.

Corruptness <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"ness , n. The quality of being corrupt.

Corruptress <Xpage=327>

Cor*rupt"ress (-r?s) , n. A woman who corrupts.

Thou studied old corruptress . Beau & Fl.

Corsac <Xpage=327>

Cor"sac (k?r"s?k) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The corsak.

Corsage <Xpage=327>

Cor"sage (k?r"s?j) , n. [F. See Corset .] The waist or bodice of a lady's dress; as. a low corsage .

Corsair <Xpage=327>

Cor"sair (k?r"s?r) , n. [F. corsaire (cf. It. corsare , corsale , Pr. corsari ), LL. corsarius , fr. L. cursus a running, course, whence Sp. corso cruise, corsa cruise, coasting voyage, corsear to cruise against the enemy, to pirate, corsario cruising, a privateer authorized to cruise against the enemy. See Course .] 1. A pirate; one who cruises about without authorization from any government, to seize booty on sea or land.

2. A piratical vessel.

Barbary corsairs . . . infested the coast of the Mediterranean. Prescott.

Corsak <Xpage=327>

Cor"sak (k?r"s?k) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A small foxlike mammal ( Cynalopex corsac ), found in Central Asia. [Written also corsac .]

Corse <Xpage=327>

Corse (k?rs &or; k?rs; 277) , n. [OF. cors , F. corps . See Corpse .] 1. A living body or its bulk. [Obs.]

For he was strong, and of so mighty corse As ever wielded spear in warlike hand. Spenser.

2. A corpse; the dead body of a human being. [Archaic or Poetic]

Set down the corse ; or, by Saint Paul, I'll make a corse of him that disobeys. Shak.

Corselet <Xpage=327>

Corse"let (k?rs"l?t) , n. [F., dim. of OF. cors . F. corps , body. See Corse .] 1. Armor for the body, as, the body breastplate and backpiece taken together; -- also, used for the entire suit of the day, including breastplate and backpiece, tasset and headpiece.

2. (Zo\'94l.) The thorax of an insect.

Corsepresent <Xpage=327>

Corse"pres`ent (k?rs"pr?z` e nt &or; k?rs"-) , n. (Engl.Law) An offering made to the church at the interment of a dead body.

Blackstone.

Corset <Xpage=327>

Cor"set (k?r"s?t) , n. [F., dim. of OF. cors , F. corps , body. See Corse .] 1. In the Middle Ages, a gown or basque of which the body was close fitting, worn by both men and women.

<page="328"> Page 328

2. An article of dress inclosing the chest and waist worn (chiefly by women) to support the body or to modify its shape; stays.

Corset <Xpage=328>

Cor"set (k?r"s?t) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Corseted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Corseting .] To inclose in corsets.

Corslet <Xpage=328>

Cors"let (k?rs"l?t) , n. A corselet. [Obs.]

Hakluyt.

Corsned <Xpage=328>

Cors"ned (k?rs"n?d) , n. [AS. corsn<?/d .] (AS. Laws) The morsel of execration; a species of ordeal consisting in the eating of a piece of bread consecrated by imprecation. If the suspected person ate it freely, he was pronounced innocent; but if it stuck in his throat, it was considered as a proof of his guilt.

Burril.

Cort\'82ge <Xpage=328>

Cor`t\'82ge" (k?r`t?zh") , n. [F., fr. It. corteggio train, fr. corte court. See Court .] A train of attendants; a procession.

Cortes <Xpage=328>

Cor"tes (k?r"t?s) , n. pl. [Sp. & Pg., fr. corte court.] The legislative assembly, composed of nobility, clergy, and representatives of cities, which in Spain and in Portugal answers, in some measure, to the Parliament of Great Britain.

Cortex <Xpage=328>

Cor"tex (k?r"t?ks) , n. ; pl. Cortices (-t<?/-s<?/z) . [L., bark. Cf. Cork .] 1. Bark, as of a tree; hence, an outer covering.

2. (Med.) Bark; rind; specifically, cinchona bark.

3. (Anat.) The outer or superficial part of an organ; as, the cortex or gray exterior substance of the brain .

Cortical <Xpage=328>

Cor"ti*cal (k?r"t?-k a l) , a. [L. cortex bark: cf. F. cortical .] Belonging to, or consisting of, bark or rind; resembling bark or rind; external; outer; superficial; as, the cortical substance of the kidney .

Corticate krt-kt, Corticated <Xpage=328>

Cor"ti*cate (k?r"t?-k?t) , Cor"ti*ca`ted (-k?`t?d) , a. [L. corticatus .] Having a special outer covering of a nature unlike the interior part.

Corticifer <Xpage=328>

Cor*tic"i*fer (k?r-t?s"?-f?r) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the Gorgoniacea ; -- so called because the fleshy part surrounds a solid axis, like a bark.

Corticiferous <Xpage=328>

Cor`ti*cif"er*ous (k?r`t?-s?f"?r-?s) , a. [L. cortex , corticis , bark -- -ferous : cf. F. corticif<?/re .] 1. Producing bark or something that resembling that resembles bark.

2. (Zo\'94l.) Having a barklike c<?/nenchyms.

Corticiform <Xpage=328>

Cor*tic"i*form (k?r-t?s"?-f?rm) , a. [L. cortex , corticis , bark + -form : cf. F. corticiforme .] Resembling, or having the form of, bark or rind.

Corticine <Xpage=328>

Cor"ti*cine (k?r"t?-s?n) , n. [F., fr. L. cortex , corticis , bark.] A material for carpeting or floor covering, made of ground cork and caoutchouc or India rubber.

Corticose <Xpage=328>

Cor"ti*cose` (-k?s`) , a. [L. corticosus .] Abounding in bark; resembling bark; barky.

Corticous <Xpage=328>

Cor"ti*cous (-k?s) , a. Relating to, or resembling, bark; corticose.

Cortile <Xpage=328>

Cor"tile (k?r"t?l; It. k?r-t?"l?) , n. [It., fr. corte court.] An open internal courtyard inclosed by the walls of a large dwelling house or other large and stately building.

Corundum <Xpage=328>

Co*run"dum (k?-r?n"d?m) , n. ; pl. Corundums (-d<?/mz) . [Also corindon .] [From Hind. kurand corundum stone.] (Min.) The earth alumina, as found native in a crystalline state, including sapphire , which is the fine blue variety; the oriental ruby , or red sapphire; the oriental amethyst , or purple sapphire; and adamantine spar , the hair-brown variety. It is the hardest substance found native, next to the diamond.

&hand; The name corundum is sometimes restricted to the non-transparent or coarser kinds. Emery is a dark-colored granular variety, usually admixed with magnetic iron ore.

Coruscant <Xpage=328>

Co*rus"cant (k?-r?s"k a nt) , a. [L. coruscans , p. pr. See Coruscate .] Glittering in flashes; flashing.

Howell.

Coruscate <Xpage=328>

Cor"us*cate (k?r"?s-k?t &or; k?-r?s"k?r) , v. i. [L. coruscare to flash, vibrate.] To glitter in flashes; to flash.

Syn. -- To glisten; gleam; sparkle; radiate.

Coruscation <Xpage=328>

Cor`us*ca"tion (k?r`?s-k?"sh?n) , n. [L. coruscatio : cf. F. coruscattion .] 1. A sudden flash or play of light.

A very vivid but exceeding short-lived splender, not to call <?/t a little coruscation . Boyle.

2. A flash of intellectual brilliancy.

He might have illuminated his times with the incessant cor<?/<?/cations of his genius. I. Taylor.

Syn. -- Flash; glitter; blaze; gleam; sparkle.

Corve <Xpage=328>

Corve (k?rv) , n. See Corf .

Corvee <Xpage=328>

Cor`vee" (k?r`v" &or; -v?") , n. [F. corv\'82e , fr. LL. corvada , corrogata , fr. L. corrogare to entreat togetther; cor- + rogare to ask.] (Feudal Law) An obligation to perform certain services, as the repair of roads, for the lord or sovereign.

Corven <Xpage=328>

Cor"ven (k?r"v e n) , obs. p. p. of Carve .

Chaucer.

Corvet krvt, Corvette <Xpage=328>

Cor"vet (k?r"v?t) , Cor*vette" (k?r-v?r") , n. [F. corvette , fr. Pg. corveta or Sp. corbeta , fr. L. corbita a slow-sailing ship of burden, fr, corbis basket. Cf. Corbeil .] (Naut.) A war vessel, ranking next below a frigate, and having usually only one tier of guns; -- called in the United States navy a sloop of war .

Corvetto <Xpage=328>

Cor*vet"to (-v?t"t?) , n. (Min.) A curvet.

Peacham.

Corvine <Xpage=328>

Cor"vine (k?r"v?n) , a. [L. corvinus , fr. corvus crow.] Of or pertaining to the crow; crowlike.

Corvorant <Xpage=328>

Cor"vo*rant (k?r"v?-r a nt) , n. See Cormorant .

Corybant <Xpage=328>

Cor"y*bant (k?r"?-b?nt) , n. ; pl. E. Corybants (-b<?/nts), oftener L. Corybantes (-b<?/n"t<?/z) . [L. Corybas , Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/.] One of the priests of Cybele in Phrygia. The rites of the Corybants were accompanied by wild music, dancing, etc.

Corybantiasm <Xpage=328>

Cor`y*ban"ti*asm (-b?n"t?-?z'm) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ a corybantic frenzy.] (Med.) A kind of frenzy in which the patient is tormented by fantastic visions and want of sleep.

Dunglison.

Corybantic <Xpage=328>

Cor`y*ban"tic (k?r`?-b?n"t?k) , a. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/, fr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ a Corybant.] Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the Corybantes or their rites; frantic; frenzied; as, a corybantic dance .

Corymb <Xpage=328>

Cor"ymb (k?r"?mb &or; -?m; 220) , n. [L. corymbus cluster of flowers, Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/.] (Bot.) (a) A flat-topped or convex cluster of flowers, each on its own footstalk, and arising from different points of a common axis, the outermost blossoms expanding first, as in the hawthorn. (b) Any flattish flower cluster, whatever be the order of blooming, or a similar shaped cluster of fruit.

Corymbed <Xpage=328>

Cor"ymbed (k?r"?mbd) , a. (Bot.) Corymbose.

Corymbiferous <Xpage=328>

Cor`ym*bif"er*ous (k?r`?m-b?f"?r-?s) , a. [L. corymbifer ; corymbus a cluster of flowers + ferre to bear<?/ cf. F. corimbif<?/re .] (Bot.) Bearing corymbs of flowers or fruit.

Corymbose <Xpage=328>

Co*rym"bose (k?-r?m"b?s &or; k?r"?m-b?s`) , a. (Bot.) Consisting of corymbs, or resembling them in form. [Written also corymbous .]

Corymbosely <Xpage=328>

Co*rym"bose*ly , adv. In corymbs.

Coryph\'91noid <Xpage=328>

Cor`y*ph\'91"noid (k?r`?-f?"noid) , a. [NL. coruphaena + -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) Belonging to, or like, the genus Coryph\'91na . See Dolphin .

Coryph</e <Xpage=328>

Co`ry`ph<?/e" (k?`r?`f?") , n. [F.] (Drama) A ballet dancer.

Coryphene <Xpage=328>

Cor"y*phene` (k?r"?-f?n`) , n. [NL. coryphena , fr. Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ head, summit, peak: cf. F. coryph<?/ne .] (Zo\'94l.) A fish of the genus Coryph\'91na . See Dolphin . (2)

Corypheus <Xpage=328>

Cor`y*phe"us (k?r`?-f?"?s) , n. ; pl. E. Corypheuses (-<?/z), L. Coryphei (-f<?/"<?/) . [L. coryphaeus , fr. Gr. <?/<?/<?/, fr. <?/<?/<?/ head.] (Gr. Antiq.) The conductor, chief, or leader of the dramatic chorus; hence, the chief or leader of a party or interest.

That noted corypheus [Dr. John Owen] of the Independent faction. South.

Coryphodon <Xpage=328>

Co*ryph"o*don (k?-r?f"?-d?n) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/ head, peak + <?/<?/<?/<?/, <?/<?/<?/, tooth.] (Palen.) A genus of extinct mammals from the eocene tertiary of Europe and America. Its species varied in size between the tapir and rhinoceros, and were allied to those animals, but had short, plantigrade, five-toed feet, like the elephant.

Coryphodont <Xpage=328>

Co*ryph"o*dont (-d?nt) , a. (Paleon.) Pertaining to, or resembling, the genus Coryphodon .

Coryza <Xpage=328>

Co*ry"za (k?-r?"z?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ catarh.] (Med.) Nasal catarrh.

Coscinomancy <Xpage=328>

Cos*cin"o*man`cy (k?s-s?n"?-m?n`s? &or; k?s"s?-n?-) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ sieve + -mancy .] Divination by means of a suspended sieve.

Coscoroba <Xpage=328>

Cos`co*ro"ba (k?s`k?-r?"b?) , n. [Native name.] (Zo\'94l.) A large, white, South American duck, of the genus Cascoroba , resembling a swan.

Cosecant <Xpage=328>

Co*se"cant (k?-s?"k?nt) , n. [For co. secans , an abbrev. of L. complementi secans .] (Trig.) The secant of the complement of an arc or angle. See Illust . of Functions .

Cosen <Xpage=328>

Cos"en (k?z"'n) , v. t. See Cozen .

Cosenage <Xpage=328>

Cos"en*age (k?z"'n-?j) , n. See Cozenage .

Cosening <Xpage=328>

Cos"en*ing , n. (O. Eng. Law) Anything done deceitfully, and which could not be properly designated by any special name, whether belonging to contracts or not.

Burrill.

Cosentient <Xpage=328>

Co*sen"tient (k?-s?n"sh e nt) , a. Perceiving together.

Cosey <Xpage=328>